The final week of the USFL regular season is upon us, with a slate of games that will have no bearing on the postseason whatsoever. Some of the top players may rest, particularly for the teams who’ve clinched postseason bids. That would be the Generals, Stars, Stallions, and Breakers. Some of their key players could see reductions in roles, particularly with no bye weeks in the schedule.
Unlike in the NFL, I’d expect most of the usual starters to continue to see the field for the eliminated teams, though. Playing for the USFL is effectively just a way to get tape down for NFL scouts, and that doesn’t change when your team is eliminated. This could prove not to be the case, but we’ll be proceeding as if eliminated teams are behaving as normal this week — with exceptions noted when applicable.
Of course, the title of this article is a bit tongue-in-cheek. For DFS players, this week has just as much at stake as any other.
Lineup construction is different with the USFL than for NFL DFS. Only six offensive players make the roster, with one quarterback, one running back, two WR/TE spots, and two flexes. That means we don’t have to roster a tight end and can load up on high-upside wide receivers. It also means tight ends will be much lower owned, which could be an edge.
The scoring system is carried over from the NFL, with the lone exception being three-point conversions counting for…three fantasy points. Yes, the USFL has three-point PATs, which are attempted from the 10-yard line.
Also, don’t forget that for large-field tournaments, you can utilize our Lineup Optimizer to effortlessly create up to 150 lineups, or use our Lineup Builder if you like to hand-build your lineups.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at who our models like at each position.
USFL DFS Quarterbacks
Top Pick
Jordan Ta’amu ($11,600): Tampa Bay Bandits (+3.5) vs. Birmingham Stallions
Ta’Amu and the Bandits have nothing left to play for but pride as they look to finish the season .500 with a win against the Stallions. My assumption would be a full workload for Ta’Amu, the USFL’s leading quarterback, from a points per game standpoint. He’s hit double-figured in scoring in eight of the Bandits’ nine games.
It’s a tough matchup on paper with Birmingham, who have been the second-toughest team for quarterback scoring while allowing the second-fewest points in the league. However, Birmingham has their playoff position locked up, so it’s possible they rest some defensive starters in this one.
As always, Ta’Amu is the safest pick at quarterback, leading our models in median projection. He also provides upside courtesy of his legs, running for 86 yards last week. While I expect his ownership to lead the slate this week, he might just be worth it, given the situation for Birmingham.
Tournament Pick
Alex McGough ($7,200): Birmingham Stallions (-3.5) vs. Tampa Bay Bandits
Our models currently have Birmingham quarterback J’Mar Smith ($10,800) as the expected starter, but it’s likelier to be McGough in this one. He was activated to the roster on Friday for the first time since Week 6 while also missing weeks 2 and 3.
McGough was the first quarterback drafted for the Stallions but was supplanted by Smith as the starter after his injuries. They split time while both healthy in week 5, but one of the two has been inactive or left early in their other games.
It makes sense for Birmingham to get a look at McGough this week, though. This game is meaningless for them, and they have a decision to make at quarterback in the playoffs if both passers stay healthy. At $7,200, he’s a tremendous value if he can approach the 15ish points we have Smith projected for. Ownership should be minimal as well, with there being a fair amount of risk as to whether he starts or not.
Kenji Bahar ($6,300): Houston Gamblers (+3.5) vs. New Orleans Breakers
Bahar is projected for the third-most points at quarterback this week, despite coming in at only $6,300 in salary. He fairly easily leads our models in Pts/Sal, though McGough would make it close if he were given Smith’s projections.
Bahar has been solid since taking over as a starter, with accurate (but short) passing and some reasonable rushing upside. He’s added 85 yards on the ground over two games but has yet to find the endzone with his legs.
The Gamblers are another team playing for pride against an opponent somewhat likely to rest starters to an extent. USFL rosters aren’t deep enough to allow for full weeks off for starting defenders, but they could see their snaps limited. Bahar probably needs a rushing touchdown to access any upside here, but that’s the case for most USFL quarterbacks. He’s shown an ability to run the ball, so his odds are as good as any.
USFL DFS Running Backs
